LIVERPOOL fan Darren Clarke has fuelled the great gong debate by claiming the Ryder Cup team should have been honoured by the Queen.

Anfield chief executive Rick Parry criticised the European Champions' omission from the sporting New Year Honours.

Now Irish golfer Clarke has expressed his dismay at the way Bernhard Langer's heroes were also overlooked after their historic triumph.

English cricket's Ashes success saw captain Michael Vaughan made an OBE while the rest of the side were awarded MBEs.

Ulsterman Clarke and his European colleagues beat the Americans at Oakland Hills in 2004 by a record score of 181/2-91/2.

The team included six other Brits - Paul Casey, Luke Donald, David Howell, Ian Poulter, Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood - yet only Monty was recognised in last year's Honours when he got the OBE. "It was strange last year that after we won the Ryder Cup by a record score only one of us got an OBE," said Clarke.

"The rest of us didn't get anything, yet all the Ashes cricketers got an honour of some kind.

"Some of the awards didn't make sense - perhaps the people who made the decisions don't play golf. We created more euphoria in Britain than Liverpool did by winning the European Cup.

"We are obviously lobbying the wrong people but if we win it this year, then we'll deserve something."

Clarke's view was backed by Ryder Cup pal Paul McGinley.

Speaking at the launch of the Quinn Direct British Masters at The Belfry, McGinley said: "Golf hasn't had the recognition in the Honours that it deserves.

"The biggest anomaly has to be Nick Faldo.

"Look at the people who have been knighted over the years - surely six Majors warrants a higher title than the OBE Nick has."